CDC’s ACIP recommends new Merck vaccine

Merck has announced that it has gained approval for one of its drugs used to vaccinate young women and girls against cervical cancer and other gynaecological diseases. The drug was unanimously recommended by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunisation Practices (ACIP), after a vote last week.

The drug in question, Gardasil, is aimed at girls and women aged between 11 and 26 to prevent the onset of cervical cancer, precancerous and low-grade lesions and genital warts caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types six, 11, 16 and 18.

Merck suggests that ACIP has recommended that females wit abnormal Pap testsm genital warts or who have tested positive for HPV can take Gardasil.

Mark Feinberg, vice president of policy, public health and medical affairs at Merck Vaccines, commented: “Merck is pleased that the ACIP has endorsed the use of Gardasil to protect adolescent girls and young women from the potentially serious consequences of HPV infection.”

“Gardasil was specifically designed to reduce the majority of HPV-related clinical diseases, those caused by HPV types six, 11, 16 and 18, and this recommendation from the ACIP will help to ensure that this vaccine can do just that for many girls and young women.”

HPV affects around 20 million people in the US alone, with 80 per cent of females having been afflicted by it by the age of 50. Although this goes away for most people it can lead to cervical cancer if left untreated for those who have acquired a high-risk strain of HPV.

Merck states that the annual cost for HPV treatment is around $5 billion, with 4.7 million abnormal Pap results requiring follow-up treatment in the US.

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